- Joined
- May 18, 2009
- Messages
- 44
Just a quick couple points...
Not all reptiles require UVB. As previously mentioned, some rainforest species go their entire lives under the canopy without seeing anything more than a stray sunbeam that happens to penetrate the leaves overhead. Nocturnal animals (or, to make it even better) nocturnal rainforest animals never see the light of day. They are concealed when the sun is out and are active only when there is no chance of them being exposed to UVB. These reptiles do, however, require calcium supplements when kept as pets as their diets are somewhat more restricted than when in the wild. For example, my crested geckos (nocturnal arboreal species) are fed an MRP (meal replacement powder) that provides a complete balance of their dietary needs. I do feed them crickets on occasion (2-3 time per week, typically, sometimes less often) and those are dusted with a calcium supplement.
The UVB lighting debate is one that occurs in almost all arenas of herpetological care. Monitor lizards being a prime example. Some people believe that it is an absolute necessity in order to raise a monitor properly. Others rely on dusting the monitor's food. Still others regulate this arena with a wide variety of consumables. You will find a variety of extremely knowledgable people in each camp who have been successful in raising, keeping, and breeding monitor lizards while each using one of the aforementioned methods.
Further, if you answer the question of "Is UVB beneficial to tortoises?" and the answer is "Yes." then you next must answer the questions of, "How MUCH UVB is beneficial to tortoises?" and "How much UVB is beneficial to _________ (Russian, Redfoot, Sulcata, etc.) tortoises?"
Not trying to be inflammatory or anything, I just love a good debate.
P.S. For the record my monitor lizards are not exposed to UVB bulbs (they have floodlights for basking) and my snakes only have belly heat (i.e. under tank heaters). They are kept in a room with a window that is never bright, bright but receives some level of sunlight throughout the day. They all seem to thrive (eat, eliminate, shed, etc.) with this as their UVB staple.
P.P.S. I don't know if the gentleman who bred my hatchling Russian (18 more days!!) uses UVB but I intend to find out being as he is one of the few people in Canada who have successfully bred Russians for a number of consecutive years.
Not all reptiles require UVB. As previously mentioned, some rainforest species go their entire lives under the canopy without seeing anything more than a stray sunbeam that happens to penetrate the leaves overhead. Nocturnal animals (or, to make it even better) nocturnal rainforest animals never see the light of day. They are concealed when the sun is out and are active only when there is no chance of them being exposed to UVB. These reptiles do, however, require calcium supplements when kept as pets as their diets are somewhat more restricted than when in the wild. For example, my crested geckos (nocturnal arboreal species) are fed an MRP (meal replacement powder) that provides a complete balance of their dietary needs. I do feed them crickets on occasion (2-3 time per week, typically, sometimes less often) and those are dusted with a calcium supplement.
The UVB lighting debate is one that occurs in almost all arenas of herpetological care. Monitor lizards being a prime example. Some people believe that it is an absolute necessity in order to raise a monitor properly. Others rely on dusting the monitor's food. Still others regulate this arena with a wide variety of consumables. You will find a variety of extremely knowledgable people in each camp who have been successful in raising, keeping, and breeding monitor lizards while each using one of the aforementioned methods.
Further, if you answer the question of "Is UVB beneficial to tortoises?" and the answer is "Yes." then you next must answer the questions of, "How MUCH UVB is beneficial to tortoises?" and "How much UVB is beneficial to _________ (Russian, Redfoot, Sulcata, etc.) tortoises?"
Not trying to be inflammatory or anything, I just love a good debate.
P.S. For the record my monitor lizards are not exposed to UVB bulbs (they have floodlights for basking) and my snakes only have belly heat (i.e. under tank heaters). They are kept in a room with a window that is never bright, bright but receives some level of sunlight throughout the day. They all seem to thrive (eat, eliminate, shed, etc.) with this as their UVB staple.
P.P.S. I don't know if the gentleman who bred my hatchling Russian (18 more days!!) uses UVB but I intend to find out being as he is one of the few people in Canada who have successfully bred Russians for a number of consecutive years.
